Friction-clutch.



J. Gv UTZ.

FRICTION CLUTCH. APPLICATION FILED 05c 12. 1908.

1,1 71,008. Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- LS] Q Wit/2259a [72 7 672 for J. G. UTZ.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-12,1908.

1,171,008. Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- W z'fnesses [/We'n for UNITED STATES ra'rsr OFFICE.

JOHN G. UTZ, 013 DETROIT, MIC HIGAN, ASSI IGNOR TO CHALMER-S MOTOR COMPANY, OF

DETROIT, IMICHIGAN, A CORPORATION. OF MICHIGAN.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

Application filed December 12, 1908. Serial No. 467,231.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that 1, JOHN G. UTZ, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to friction clutches of the multiple disk type, being more par-.

ticularly designed for use in automobile transmissions.

The. invention consists in certain features of construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through the clutch; Fig. 2 is an end elevation; Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the elements, and Fig. 4 is a section on line wm, Fig. 1.

A is the drive shaft, such as the main shaft of the engine, and B is the tly wheel. My improved clutch is preferably located within the space surrounded by the annular flange C ofthe fly wheel, and is of the following construction.

D is the transmission shaft, which is arranged in axial alincment with the shaft A.

tE is a head secured by its huh F to the innor end of the shaft I) and provided at its periphery with a plurality of hearings G for engagement with one series of the friction' disks H. These disks H are of annular form and together with the cooperating interspaoed series of disks I are arranged about the periphery of the head E. The disks H are cut with inwardly extending tongues H which engage longitudinallyextending slots or key seats G in the bearings G. The disks I are provided with outweirdly-extending ears J, Whichare. apertured to receive the drive pins K projecting laterally from the web of the iy wheel 13. Thusthe disks I are anchored by the pins K to the fly Wheel B on the shaft A, while. the disks H are connected through the medium of the headE to the shaft 1).

The disks are pressed into frictional engagement with each other through the medium oi" annular plates in front and rear thereof. The rear plate L is detachably secured to the head E through the medium of pins or studs M. These are riveted or otherwise secured to the plate L and project through apertures N in the head E Within the space encircled by the disks H and I. These pins or studs M also extend through the front plate Q and at their outer ends have detachably secured thereto the bearings P for springs Q, sleeved upon said studs. Thus the springs Q, which bear at their inner ends against a plate 0, form the means of holding the disks in frictional contact. To release the clutch, the plate 0 is moved outward against the tension of the springs Q and the actuating connection for this purpose is preferably formed integral with said plate.

bearing portion which terminates at its in nor end in a conical member 'R, the plate 0 being formed by a flange at the large end of this conical or intermediate portion R; the latter serving as a housing for the hub F on the head E. There is also an 0ut-turncd flange U. at the outer end of the bearing portion S, with which an actuating lever is adapted to be engaged. The hub carries a bushing S which slidably engages the shaft 1), or, as illustrated, a tubular casing T surrounding said shaft. The member R is further provided with depressions V in the' conical portion thereof, which form recesses in which the springs P are located. There are, further, portions of the wall cut away at .W to form apertures throu h which the guides G project and tongues" are formed to project inwardly from'theannular portion 0 and to engage the guide 'rooves G.

\Vith the construction described, in 0pera- Lion the tension of the springs Q. will normally hold the clutch in, whilej-he releasing is effected by drawing outward upon the member It. As the flanges U and O are formed integral with the member R the con struction of the clutch is simplified and the number of separate parts reduced, and at the same time the member R forms a housin As illustrated in Fig. 3, S is the hub or the disks I are merely sleeved upon the studs K the clutch will be carried by the stud D and will be separated from the fly wheel, while the stud Y will he slipped out of the bearing Y. Thus the transmission shaft may be disengaged from the drive shaft without dismounting the clutch.

It will be noted that back plate L is held In position, and is secured to the head E merely by the studs or pins M, which pass loosely through the apertures N. Further- 1nore, the spring abutments P may be readily detached from the studs M with which they preferably have a screw thread engagement, and are locked by a cotter'pin P. When said abutments P are detached the clutch may be disassembled by slipping off the springs Q, disengaging the rear plate L from the head E by slipping out the studs M, after which the disks H and -I may beremoved. When the clutch is disengaged, it is desirable to check the rotation of. the driven part. This I accomplish by providing the lever, which releases the clutch, with a shoe U, which frictionally engages the flange U and thus retards its rotation at the same time that it is releasing the pressure of the clamping plates against the friction disks H and I. As illust;ated in Fig. 4, the shoe .U is p ovided with trunnions U, which pivotall engage rock arms U upon a rock arm U, and U is the actuating rock arm for the shaft.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a clutch, the combination with a series of annular friction disks, of a head within said disks engagin alternate members of the series, a member to which the other members of'the series are connected, clamping plates at the ends of the series, said head and one of the clamping plates being provided with alined apertures, a pin secured to the other of said clamping plates and passing through said apertures, and a spring upon said pin for yieldingly drawing said lates together.

2. n a clutch, the combination with a series of annular friction disks, of a head within said disks engaging the alternate members of the series,.a'mcmber to'which the other members of the series are connected, an annular clamping plate for one end of the series, s." id head having an aperture therein, a pin on said clamping plate passing through said aperture, a movable clamping plate for the opposite end of the series, and a spring on said pin for yieldlngly drawing said plates toward each other.

3. In a clutch, the combination with a series of annular friction disks, of a'head within said disks engaging the alternate members of the series, a member to which the other members of the series are con nected, clamping plates for the ends of the series, said head and one of the clamping plates being provided with alined apertures,

a pin secured to the other ofsaid clamping.

the other members of the series are connected, an annular clamping plate at one end of the series detachably engaging said head, a member havin an annular flange forming the opposite camping plate; said head and one or said clamping plates being provided with alined apertures, a pin secured to the other of said clamping plates and passing through said apertures, a spring upon said pin for yieldingly drawing said plates together, and an actuating flange on said member.

5. In a clutch, the combination with a series of annular friction disks, of a head within said disks engaging alternate members of the series, a member to which the other members of the series are connected, a shaft onwhich said vhead is mounted, a conical'member having its small end slidably engaging said shaft andprovided .with an annular flange at its large end forming a clamping plate for said disk and an annular flange at its small end forming an actuating member, an annular clamping plate at the opposite end of the series, said head and the .within said annular friction members and to which alternate members of the series are attached, a driven member to which the other members of the series are connected, a clamp:

ing plate forone end of the friction members, and a member at the opposite side of said annular friction members having a bearing portion sleeved on said shaft, an outwardly extending flange at the end of said bearing portion, a conical portion extending from the opposite mid of said psrtimy an out.- wm-diy extending: annular flange at. tin: hnge wad of said zmiml pm'tiun Lying; mijm'vni: to and constituting a damping; piutc for sa'k friction members 2L I'QCCSS in said wnicul member, 1i clamping spring in sa'ui rev-eras and a connention from said spring passing W it iessesz A ELLIE Kn sELLA, W. J. BELILNAP.

JOHN G. UTZ, 

